‘White-shirt’ identified: Rees-Mogg supporting martial artist

The SKWAWKBOX and other independent media – but almost none of the ‘MSM’ – have featured extensively the video footage and stills of a man who barged into protesters at a speech by Tory MP and hard-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg on Friday evening, before striking a female protester in the face twice and being escorted from the auditorium.

Front-page headline from a Sunday paper today

Right-wing and ‘mainstream’ media, as well as Tory groups, have tarred the protesters as violent, but while they were noisy and disruptive the violence – which has been ignored by most of the ‘MSM’ – was instigated by the audience member who has become known as ‘white shirt’.

While protesters were identified within a very short time by the right-wing media, the man who struck the woman was not, in spite of clear images of him that quickly became available:

The SKWAWKBOX, with the help of its readers, has solved the mystery.

Students at the University of Bristol run an independent magazine, Epigram – which ran a feature on Friday night about the disturbance at the Rees-Mogg event.

The feature quoted audience member Paul Townsley:

Paul Townsley, a member of the audience, claimed that he approached the protestors, at which point a woman stood between him and them, spitting at him. At this point, Townsley claims that he pushed the woman in the back, resulting in an outcry that he punched her, which Townsley denies.

But which Paul Townsley?

Here are two pieces of footage of Townsley’s ‘approach’ and his ‘push in the back’ of the woman:

Paul Townsley is a martial arts instructor from the Bristol area who has shared his support for Rees-Mogg in a change.org petition to have Rees-Mogg replace Theresa May as PM:

Townsley is a fan of Rees-Mogg-related petitions:

As well as support for Jacob Rees-Mogg and Brexit, Mr Townley’s Facebook page contains many posts demonstrating his support for a hard Brexit and, ironically in the circumstances, this:

Right-wingers on social media have swung between dismissing the idea that a woman was struck and attempting to claim that there is no evidence that Friday’s assailant is a Rees-Mogg supporter. The ‘MSM’ are proclaiming that Rees-Mogg was ‘attacked’, even though the MP himself has said otherwise.

Here are pictures showing Townsley in his martial arts gear a year ago, from the public photos of the same Facebook page containing the petitions, and the man in the thick of the action at Friday’s event:

Same ear; same hairline, including the projection forward onto the temple; same areas of grey

Townsley in late 2016

Same profile, same slight deviation of the nose when viewed from the front.

Paul Townsley named himself to the Epigram – and the pictures indicate it is Paul Townsley the ardent Brexiteer and Rees-Mogg fan.

Is he connected to Jacob Rees-Mogg? The MP has denied it, but some have speculated that what may be Townsley in this photo of Mogg suggests otherwise:

Now that his identity is known, could a connection be uncovered?

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the protesters are members of a local ‘antifa’ group not aligned with either Labour or Momentum. So the right-wing claims really are outright fake news.

Which makes this question raised by Twitter user ‘ScouseGirlMedia’ all the more pertinent:

The SKWAWKBOX attempted to contact Mr Townsley before publication, by telephone and email. He did not respond. Somerset and Avon Police were contacted for an update on their investigation but no relevant contact was reachable.

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44 comments

Good journalism.
So far then, and a quick recap. Mr Paul Townsley is a martial arts instructor who should teach self defence and restraint unable to control his temper, he attacks from behind and strikes females, tells barefaced lies against all available evidence and either has a fascination with or stalking tendencies for or is employed by Rees-Mogg? Oh dear Paul!!

Reeks-Bogg didn’t know white shirt? of course and Mosely didn’t “know” any blackshirts and Hitler didn’t know any SS officers and he didn’t “know” that some Catholic priests were child molestors. I wonder if he “knows” the pope is a catholic?

Hmm – I think you may be slightly confused. Mosley started the BUF party (the Black Shirts) after leaving the Labour party and the “New Party” . He obviously never denied knowing blackshirts as he set them up. Similarly Hitler helped set up the Waffen SS and used them throughout his career, including to kill Ernst Rohm and his SA army during the night of the long knives. Hitler never denied knowing SS Officers.

Iain,
I think you completely missed the nuance and the point I was making. Of course Hitler & Mosely new their henchmen. Look at the last sentence of the post. Its called taking the piss and I didn’t think it was that subtle. It’s what we did the olden days to send the R soles up.
I might well be confused on some occasions but this isn’t one of them.

It is interesting how different the fracas appears from the various views now available.

I wish to state I am no fan of Antifa. I dislike their going on the offensive with often provocative and intimidating methods and the practise of covering their faces in menacing black head gear and dressing in black. In my opinion groups such as them dramatically increase the chances that violence will ensue and we have enough of that from the far right who have already murdered and attacked MPs and citizens and continue to threaten violence.

We are in very volatile times, promoting robustly physical so called resistance is the last thing needed in the mix with far right views given so much air time and the press and media hosting never ending smearing, misrepresentation and demonizing of Corbyn, McDonnell and the supporters of the Socialist cause that is rallying round Corbyn’s leadership aiming to greatly improve the lives of the majority of citizens, many of who are suffering greatly under the unnecessary Tory austerity and privatisation programs.

Every day Steve shames the BBC and the rest of the sold-out MSM “journalists” with the diligence and integrity that used to be the watchwords of the fourth estate – while they sell twisted half-truths and lies to the most gullible in society so the Tories can buy yet another dishonest election.
Thanks, Steve.
When their trials are over and I’m throwing ordure at their passing tumbrils and they’re bleating about how they were “only doing their jobs” I’ll be proudly wearing one of your T-shirts, buddy.

The Breitbart video I link to above shows that the first push/manhandling was to the loud tall male protestor who has his arms folded, rather than the woman (off screen looks likely woman pushed/hit later). Worth watching the whole video for the context – showing Mogg is the first person to approach the protestors at the back of the hall – but the action is at @1:32 to @1:43:

Storm in a teacup. Rees-Mogg emerges with credit, i.e. courageous and corteous. Protesters emerge as anti-democratic loudmouths, some of whom refused to show their faces and looked very scary. Fellow in the white shirt looks like he lost his cool as he had come to hear R-M. If he used hos martial arts skills I doubt that the woman would have remained standing.
I reckon a bit of growing up is long overdue. And your reporting and investigation is one-sided.

It appears to me that the reporting is “one sided” as you say in that it is intended to criticise the “one sided” reporting and lack of investigation by the mainstream media. Also, speaking of one sided, it seems to have been entirely overlooked by MSM that these people were from an Antifa group in their haste to one sidedly lay this pathetic and overblown incident at the door of the Labour Party and Momentum. Maybe a bit of wising up is long overdue?

Looked scary what sort of snowflake are you sir?
Martial artist? I have seen them all before many years ago when they first emerged from the woodwork. Walter Mittey posers and fantaists in white pajamas the lot of them. The man couldn’t even square up properly. Use his martial art skills? don’t make me laugh! Any half decent lightweight pugilist would put him on his back in a flash and that includes me and I am well past it.
No hounrable man with any decency in him would behave like that towards a slightly built woman. The man is a cowardly thug that scurried off as soon as he was caught out. Typical and what we might expect from a Reeks-Bogg henchman. I expect the lieing toad will deny knowing him.
At the very least he needs to be proscecuted for assault and affray. The evidence is all there on film. I wonder what excuse the police will make for not doing so this time.

Bhahahaha. Surely you aren’t as stupid as you make yourself out to be, Mismanagement? Rees-Moran emerges with credit?? Where? When?
You are JOKING. “Protesters looked very scary” ?? Really? If you’re afraid of them, then you’re probably scared of spiders as well. 🙂 🙂 (are didum scared of naughty-waughty spider-widders??) Whether the woman would have remained standing or not after being attacked by the fellow in the white shirt IE. PAUL TOWNSLEY who is a martial arts instructor, is irrelevant. The fact that he dared to physically attack a lady who was merely talking to him shows what a bully he is. Utter scumbag!! Thank God we have Skwawkbox to rely on for honest news and to show us the truth of what happened.

@MadManagement. Disruption of a speech by a controversial figure is a long tradition in Britain. It goes as follows: Controversial speaker gets up; protesters disrupt; 5 minutes or so later, protesters get ushered out. Speaker looks good; protesters generally don’t. Honour is satisfied. Drinks all round. This time, The Man In The White Shirt decided to break this honoured tradition. Why? What was his motive. And if it comes to that, what is yours in writing in such terms?

it was definitely deliberate, he comes in through the crowd, the woman has her back to him. The man in white grabs here, she reacts to him and he smacks her. I would do the same if i was grabbed like that from behind

I am 100% satisfied this guy is known to the Bogg, I might be wrong to me it look as though she said something to him he looked down and shoved his clown like mitt over he mouth with some force the second belt from him was with his arm intentionally or not she took it again from him with some force
Mr Townleys employment status is the Royal Navy , Paul if your still in service this not a way to treat a lady, you need anger management Rees Bogg you need to stop telling lies
Lastly all you right wing nut cases and msm you have been proved wrong this had nothing to do with labour or momentum

I am glad the ‘Rees- Bogg’ handle is catching on Andrew. He RB knows him for sure. Otherwise why would he intervene in the tradional ” she’s not wurff It” manner. Typical right wing rabble rouser that he is.

The man in white is a plant.Used in pubs and clubs.Sits at the bar and when trouble starts wades in dropping the problem.Usually a ex bouncer who has lost his licence and being paid illegally for his services.The bouncers know him and let him get away.As he is pictured near Mogg at other times,who is paying him.I am shure he does not travel for nothing.

Just want to comment in defence of the usual received discipline of martial arts… please look up Kitty Marshall, today of all days. This man is obviously using his instruction poorly – no ‘wax on, wax off’ sensibility for him (!). Though context is everything and if the connections your excellent investigations have unearthed are substantiated, and it would certainly seem they are, it’s not surprising this man is as ethically unsound in his approach to martial arts as his approach to humanity.

Why not try having Mr white shirt nicked for assault. Although police don’t act on common assault unless it’s a cop. But private prosecution . Also report to the Marshall arts commission get his licence to teach revoked